Software engineer from Andhra raped, murdered;protest erupts in Mumbai

, Jan 23: Massive protest erupted in Mumbai demanding justice for the young software engineer who first was raped and then was killed by a few unknown persons.

The protesters including Bollywood director-producer Pooja Bhatt was quoting as saying, "They kept insisting that it was a case of rape, possibly abduction and murder and unfortunately their worst fears were proved right."

"So, I think somewhere we need to tell or ask our state machinery that if you were there to protect us, are you doing enough?" asked Ms Bhatt.

They kept insisting that it was a case of rape, possibly abduction and murder

The victim -- Esthar, who hailed from Vijaywada, Andhra Pradesh, went missing on Jan 4 when she last spoke to her father. She moved to the Dream City last year after being appointed in the software company -- TCS.

After celebrating Christmas with her family in Vijaywada, Esthar returned to Mumbai. She promised her father that she would call him again after settling into the hostel in Mumbai where she lived. However, when her family did not receive any information even after 24 hours, her father filed a missing case.

Mumbai railway police were accused of not initiating any investigation. Later, Esthar's family moved Vijaywada Police. After a tracking Esthar's mobile phone connection, police discovered her decomposed body near a major highway on the outskirts of Mumbai.

According to police, fellow passengers, who had travelled with Esthar, informed that they saw Esthar disembarking from the train at the Kurla station.

According to the investigating officials, the victim might have been abducted by a group of taxi or auto drivers waiting to find customers at the station.

Police failed to locate Esthar's laptop which she was carrying with her. Police, however, found her cellphone near her decomposed body.

OneIndia News